Alan Reed (artist)

Alan Reed (born 1961 in Corbridge, Northumberland, England) is a UK watercolour artist. He began painting at an early age, winning a prize at the age of 10 for his painting of 'Bamburgh Castle at sunset'. He had his first exhibition at the age of 18, at the local library in his home town, Ponteland, and has been taking commissions ever since. His watercolour paintings have been exhibited worldwide in the UK, Italy, the US and the Middle East.
Career
He trained as an illustrator/graphic designer at Newcastle upon Tyne College of Art and Technology from 1978 to 1982. Although his course did not touch on watercolour in the first year as he was being trained in other mediums including acrylic and gouache, he practised using watercolours in his spare time. Early influences were established international artists including the American, Winslow Homer, who had lived at Cullercoats in the North east of England, not far from where Alan lives now. He also admired the work of Rowland Hilder, who he described as a master of cityscapes, John Singer Sargent and Sir William Russell Flint.
He left college with an HND in Applied Design and became self-employed in 1984 using the Enterprise Allowance Scheme. He also commenced a series of lecturing jobs at Newcastle College of Art and Technology, South Tyneside College, Derwentside College and Cleveland College of Art, covering a 20-year timescale. He opened his own Gallery of Fine Art in Eldon Garden, Newcastle in 1998 to 2002 and then went on to open his own studio in Ponteland.
He has been a member of the Fine Art Trade Guild for over 10 years.
The UK
Reed's work often includes street scenes. Newcastle upon Tyne is a source of inspiration and the city's football fans heading for St James Park football ground have been one of many local subjects. Scenes of Durham city, Northumberland castles and Norfolk are also amongst his extensive portfolio amassed over three decades of painting. He also has an array of images of Scotland, in particular Edinburgh and the east coastline and has exhibited on a regular basis in Scotland. For three successive years (1992,1993 and 1994) his work was shortlisted for the Sunday Times Watercolour Competition. In September 2010 Alan was 1st runner up in "The Bath Prize" with his original painting of "The Royal Crescent, Bath". His painting "The Roman Baths by Torchlight" was also highly commended. He has had a number of solo exhibitions since 1981 including those at the Mall Galleries in London and has been a regular exhibitor of rowing scenes in the Stewards' enclosure at the Henley Royal Regatta along with exhibitions in his native Newcastle.
Italy
In 1991 Alan was introduced to Italy by Susan; the holiday was to have a lasting effect on him. Impressed by the landscape, Alan subsequently travelled to various regions throughout the country from the Veneto to Piedmont, Tuscany, Umbria, the Amalfi Coast and Abruzzo. He has completed several commissions to paint famous towns and cities including San Gimignano, Florence and Venice. In 2005 he held an exhibition of his work entitled "The Light" in Marostica, which was featured on Italian television and local press.
Middle East
Also in 2005 Reed was commissioned to paint two watercolours for a client in Oman. This became the catalyst for regular painting trips to the Persian Gulf region, including Dubai and Kuwait as well as Oman. common feature of his work in this region has been the dhows at rest in calm harbour waters, the distinctive Arabic architecture and the activity in the life of the Souks. Alan has enjoyed an ongoing relationship with the Bait Muzna Gallery in Muscat since 2007. He had a joint exhibition with landscape photographer Malcolm MacGregor titled "Mystical Oman" in April 2010 opened by his Highness Sayyid Tarik Al Said. sketch book studies of Oman have attracted significant interest and have been printed as a handmade leather bound limited edition reproduction sketch book featuring watercolours to celebrate Oman's 40th Renaissance.
Personal life
Alan was born in Corbridge, Northumberland, England, eldest son of Kenneth and Gillian Reed. Kenneth Reed is also an artist, specialising in paintings of golf courses. Alan's grandfather, Thomas Reed also painted and his great grandfather carved ship figureheads. Alan now lives in Ponteland, Northumberland where his gallery and studio are based within his own home. He married his wife Susan in 1993 and they have two children and three grandchildren. They both share strong family ethics and a Christian faith along with a unique bond following an operation on 27 June 2001 at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital. Susan needed a kidney transplant and although her mother was tested she was not compatible. Alan's kidneys were and he donated one of his own to Susan. story was featured on BBC 1's Songs of Praise on Sunday 5 November 2006.
Exhibitions
Reed has had solo shows at Castlegate, Newcastle upon Tyne (2011), Di Rollo Gallery, Edinburgh (2005), Gallery 19, Kensington, London (2005), Castello Vecchio, Marostica, Vicenza, Italy (2005), Malcolm Innes Gallery, London (1997) among others. His work has been exhibited in group shows at The Bath Gallery, Bath, NewcastleGateshead Art Fair (2010), La Dolce Vita, Earls Court, London (2005), Scottish Exhibition Centre, Glasgow (2004), among others.

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